Jack Draper achieved the most significant victory and largest financial reward of his career with a dominant performance at the Indian Wells Open.
The British player from Sutton became only the fifth British man, joining Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, Tim Henman, and Greg Rusedski, to win a Masters 1000 title, a prestigious honor just below the Grand Slams.
Draper’s commanding 6-2, 6-2 win against Holger Rune secured him the Indian Wells Open title and a substantial £930,000 prize for his two weeks of competition in Palm Springs.
He served a total of ten aces against a pressured Rune, mirroring Norrie’s triumph on the same court four years prior.
Draper, who won in just 68 minutes, shortly after his semi-final victory against Carlos Alcaraz, dropped to his knees and raised his fingers to the sky in celebration.
He expressed, “This is incredible. I wasn’t expecting this. I have invested a lot of effort over time.”
“I am incredibly grateful and happy to be here, to be able to compete, and to feel physically and mentally strong.”
“It feels like all the hard work over the past few years is culminating on this grand stage. It’s hard to express in words.”
“Starting strong was crucial. I approached the match effectively. I learned from yesterday’s match against Carlos, where I experienced some fluctuations and low energy. ”
“I anticipated a strong performance from Holger. I needed to maintain aggression and aim to win from the very first point, which I executed exceptionally well.”
“I didn’t give him opportunities to dictate play. I felt in control throughout the match.”
“Honestly, I feel like I deserve this. Considering the challenges and sacrifices I’ve faced, and the dedication from my support team.”
“It’s deeply emotional to acknowledge the journey and effort invested.”
“To stand here now, knowing I will be ranked seventh in the world, is incredibly meaningful.”
Draper, aged 23, chose to receive serve after winning the coin toss and quickly established dominance in the breezy conditions of the Californian desert.
Within just 14 minutes, he had secured two service breaks, leading 4-0 against Rune, who appeared unsettled and visibly frustrated.
Both players were similarly dressed in tennis attire and wore their baseball caps backward despite the bright sunlight.
The first set was clearly one-sided, and Draper calmly secured it in just 29 minutes, barely celebrating.
A service break early in the second set further dampened the atmosphere, as Draper cruised towards victory.
One forehand winner was so impressive that even Rune applauded Draper’s shot.
This successful fortnight, marked by Draper’s most consistent tennis performance, will elevate him to a career-high ranking of world No. 7 and place him just 60 points behind Novak Djokovic in fifth place.
Draper’s next tournament is in Miami, but this victory is expected to have a significant impact throughout the year, not just in the immediate future.
This win positions him as a serious contender in major tournaments, particularly Wimbledon, which is less than four months away.
Earlier in the day, 17-year-old Russian player Mirra Andreeva wept after overcoming a set deficit to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the women’s singles final.
